Gas-filled tube circuits



Jan. 4, 1938. L; K swA-RT 2,104,142

GA S-FILLED TUBE CIRCUITS Filed Dec. 27, 1955 V ibratL n-g fl Relay Vibrating Relay INVENTOR BY c ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 4,1938 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS-FILLED TUBE -j CIRCUITS Leland Kas'son Swart, Mountain Lakes, N. 1., as-

signor to American Telephone and Telegraph Company, a corporation of New York Application December 27, 1935, Serial No. 56,396 8 Claims. (Cl. 175-320) This invention relates 'to novel methods and ondary windings of transformers T1, T2 and Ta apparatus for actuating relay systems or workthrough a common biasing battery B, the voltage ing circuits or the like. More particularly, this I of which may be varied, as shown, and through a invention relates to arrangements for operating resistor Z employed for the purpose of limiting 5 .,a relay system or work circuit or the like only the flow of current in thesei'nput circuits. The when the voltage in an associated circuit equals output electrodes designated K: and Aof the gas or exceeds a predetermined value and persists for tubes N31 and Na: are associated with the output a period of time in excess of a prescribed duration. or work circuit of the system.

There may be occasions when it is undesirable In the output or the work circuit there is a to have a given work circuit operate from imvibrating relay R: which performs, among other 10 pulses of very short duration, as, for example, things, the function of resetting the gas tubes, where it is desired that oscillograms record ime i. e., deionizing the gas in the tubes, at high speed, pulses of long duration and not record impulses the armature of relay R2 vibrating during the of very short duration such as static or lightning. period of persistance of voltage of sumcient am- In certain locations, a fairly large percentage of plitude between electrodes K1 and K: of either gas 15 the operations of a recording oscillograph may be tube. found to be from static or lightning, which, as far A resistance Z1 and the winding of a relay R1 asidata obtained are concerned, may be of little are connected in series with the winding of the or no value. In accordance with this invention, vibrating relay R2. The relay R1 controls the therefore, a delay arrangement may be incorporoperation of a slow operating relay Ra. The 20 ated into a proper recording system for the purlatter relay Ra in turn causes operation of any pose of selecting the type of impulses desired and desired apparatus connected atD after there has to exclude the undesired impulses which may, elapsed the predetermined interval required to for example, interfere with and'to some extent operate relay R1 in tandem with relay R3. In

nullify the effect of the desired impulses. order that the work circuit may be operated, it 5 This invention will be better understood from is necessary that both relays R1 and Rs be simulthe following description when read in connection taneously brought into their operated positions. 7 with the accompanying drawing inlwhich Figures The operation oi the device is as follows: Volt-" l and 2 show two embodiments of the invention age applied between terminals l-l or between each of which includes novel apparatus associated terminals 22 or between terminals 3-3, etc., of 30 with cold-cathode gas-filled tube systems; Fig. 3 transformers T1, T2 or T3, respectively, or between shows an arrangement including a hot cathode the terminals of any or all of these transformers, as-fil ed tube sys gs. 4 and 5 show dlfierif of "sufllcient amplitude will cause ionization of ent types of arrangements employing two coldthe gas between electrodes K1 and K: of either or de gas-filled tubes. both of gas tubes N31 or N32. This will result in 35 In Fig. 1 there is shown a method of initiating the flow of current from anode A to cathode K: of

operation of some such device, as, for example, an either or both of said tubes to the negative termioscillograph, after a predetermined time delay. 119.1 of the battery B, this C e flowing than The work circuit to be actuated, for example, the from the positive terminal of battery B through 40 oscillograph, may be connected to termirys D. resistance Z1, the winding of relay R1, the windi 40 This singlework circuit may be actuated from of relay R2, and thence returning to electrodes A any one of a multiplicity of circuits connected to of the gas tubes N31 and N32. This current causes terminals l-l of transformer T1, terminals 2! operation of the relays R1 and R2. The latter of transformer T2, or terminals 3-3 of transrelays jointly operate even if the gas within one former Ta,eachtransformer being associated with of the tubes N31 and N32 has become ionized. 5 a given actuating circuit. Gas tubes N31 and N3: Armatures l and 4 of relay R1 are then simultaare ionized from potentials in excessof a predeneously attraoted'to contacts 2 and 3, respectermined value, applied through transformers T1, tively T2 or T3. Each of these gas tubes may, for ex- The closure of the circuit at armature l and ample, include three electrodes K1, K2 and A, two contact 2 of relay R1 starts operation of the 50 of which-electrodes K1. and Kz-may be conslow operate relay Ra by virtue of potential sidered as the input electrodes and two of which rived, from the portion of the battery 13 between electrodes K2 and A--may be'considered as the its positive terminal and its lowercontact. The output electrodes. The electrodes Ki and K: of relay R: being of the slow operate type, requires 5 each tube N31 and N32 are connected to the sec-. a predetermined interval of time for its armature 5 5 to close its contact 6. when armature 5 closes contact 6 and if the relay R1 is still operated so eration of such device or devices as are connected at D. If, for any reason, relay R1, has lost sufiicient current in its winding during the interval that armature 5 is closed against contact 6 of the slow operate relay R3, the circuit at D will not be closed and the apparatus connected thereto then will not be operated. 1

In order to prevent the closure of the circuit at D during the interval required for the joint operation of relay R1 and relay Ra, it merely becomes necessary to restore relay R1 to its unoperated position. This may be accomplished by the cessation of operation of the vibrating relay Ba and by the deioniz'ation of the gas within the V will promptly restore the tubes to normalas far gas tubes N31 and N32. The stoppage of current through either or both of these'tubes can be brought about in a few 'thousandths of a second by or upon the withdrawal of voltage from terminals, il, 2-2 and 3-3 of the transformers T1, T2 or T1, respectively. Moreover, the deionization of the gas within tubes N31 and N32 may be brought about by the closure of armature i against contact 8 of relay R2, resulting in a prompt withdrawal of the potential of battery 3 from the anodes A of both gas tubes. The clo sure ofarmature 1 against contact 8 practically eliminates all potential from between the anodes A and the cathodes K2 of eacliof the gas tubes. The potential between these electrodes is thereby reduced to a value below that required torsustain ionization between these electrodes. This as the work circuit, 1. e., the output circuit, of the tubes is concerned. If. however, the gas within these tubes is nevertheless ionized by virtue of voltage applied between their-input electrodes through anyone or all of the transformers .T1, T2 and T3, current will be again supplied to the windingsof relays R1 and R2, resulting in revibration of the armature of relay R2. Relay R1 continuously remains in its operated position dur-- ing the period of vibration of the armature I of the relay'R2 because of the flow of current through the gas tubes even while the armature i is not in contact with 8. If, when I leaves contact 8, the gas within the tube or tubes remains in ionized condition due to the presence of voltage at the input electrodes K1 and K2, the

winding of relay Ra will still receive current over the .circuit including the winding of relay R2 and the electrodes K2 and A of the gas tubes. Hence, relay R1 can not restore to normal until the gas within both tubes has become deionized and the relay R1 ceases to vibrate its armature.

During the period of ionization of the gas between electrodes K1 and K: on account of voltages transmitted through transformers T1, T2 and T3, relay R2 continuously vibrates and holds the relay R1 in continuous operation for the duration of the vibration. Relay R2, however, ceases vibrationimmediately upon the withdrawal of potential from the input electrodes K1 and K2 of either gas tube, thence restoring relay R1 to normal. If the relay R1 remains operated for a period of time in excess of that required to operate relay R3 the closed circuit is completed to terminals D as already explained. This closed circuit will be maintained at D for a-period of time dependent upon the duration of the applied voltage at the input or anyone or all of the transformers T1, T2 orTa.

armature l The resistance Z5 and condenserC bridge the armature I and contact 8 of the vibratingrelay R2. 1 They are so arranged for the purpose of substantially reducing the effect of sparking as this armature is caused to vibrate at highspeed.

It will be observed that the tubes N31 and N32 are arranged so that the gas therein is ionized alternately in accordance with opposite halves of each alternating current cycle applied through any or more of the transformers T1, T2 or T3. Actuating voltages are alternately applied during each cycle to the electrodes K1 and K2 of the tubes N31 and N32 and these tubes fire intermittently but continually if the alternating poten- -In Fig. 2 transformers T1, T; and T3 are con-.

nected to the actuating circuits extending to the electrodes K1 and K2 of tubesNai and- N32, as in Fig. 1, except that battery E'provides the biasing potential for these circuits. Voltage applied to any one of the three transformers T1, Tz and Ta, if of sumcient amplitude, will produce glow between cathodes K1 and K2 of either tube 111? of the proper polarity. Once the glow lsestablished between any pair ofcathodes, or indeed between both pairs of cathodes, current will flow from the anode A'to cathode K2, the interconnected circuit including the biasing battery E, the battery B, the winding of relay R4, and the winding of relay R5. This current' causes the armature iii of relay Rpto .be momentarily'withdrawn from contact E6 to close contact ll, thereby applying the negative potential of both batteries E and B, arranged in series relationship, to the cathode K1 0! the gas tube N33, the interconnected circuit including the resistance 23'. There will then be a potential drop across resistance Z2 and across condenser C2, both of which bridge the electrodes K1 and K2 of the tube N33. The charge on the condenser C2 will build up to such a point that the voltage drop across the resistance Z2 and the condenser C2 will approximate the'ionizing potential between cathodes K1 and K2 of the gas tube Naa. The potential of the batteries E and B, together with the values of resistances Z2, Z3 and condenser C2 determine the length of time required for the resistance Z2 and condenser C to become impressed with the ionizing potential required for producing glow between the cath-' odes K1 and K2 of tube N33 after closure of the armature l5 and contact I! has taken place. This time interval can cf course be varied from a iew thousandths of a second to practically any de:

- sired period of time, depending upon the value of the constants chosen. After the prescribed time interval'required to sufiiciently charge condenser C2 and to set up a corresponding voltage across resistance Z2 ample to breakdown the gas between cathodes K1 and K2 of tube N33 has elapsed, current will flow in the work circuit of the gas tube N33 which includes the electrode K2 and anode A of the tube, the resistance Z3 and the winding of relay Ra.

This will cause the operation of the relay R3 and its armature 2| will be attracted to contact 20. This in turn will produce a closed circuit to sis through the winding of relay R4, this additional current being supplied by batteries B and E. This additionalcurrent will assist in holding the armature l5 against contact ll of relay R1. However, when armature l8 rests against contact IS, the potential applied between the cathode K3 and the anode A of both tubes N31 and N511 through the winding of relay Rs'is reduced practically to a nullity. This extingulshes the glow between the electrodes of the tubes and restores the gas within these tubes to the normal deionized condition, assuming of course the absence of further sufficient potential between their cathodes K1 and K2. The withdrawal of current from the winding of relay R5 upon the closure of armature to contact I9, causes the armature J8 to fall away from contact I9. This brings about a restoration of the application of the potentials of series batteries B and E through the windings of relays R4 and R5 to the anodes A of the gas tubes N31 and N32. If glow persists between cathodes K1 and K2 because of sufficient potential ap lied between these electrodes from transformers T1, T2 or T3, ourrent will again flow between anodes A to cathodes K2 and're-establish the flow of current through the gas tubes and through the relays R4 and R5, Armature l5 will therefore be maintained continuously against contact ll during all periods in which the gas within the tubes is ionized, and for such brief intervals of time thereafter as the armature l8 of relay R5 is held against its contact l9.-

It will thus be noted that the armature ll! of relay R5 will vibrate periodically as long as glow persists between cathodes K1 and K: of either or both of the tubes N3'1 and N which 'are'ingeneral arranged for full-wave operation. If, however, the armature I8 leaves contact l9 and at the same time the gas within the tubes is in 1 a non-ionized condition due to absence of potential betweencathodes K1 and K3, the armature l8 will remain in the non-operated position and hence spaced from its contact l9. No current will then flow through the winding of relay R4. Upon the restoration of the gas within the tubes N31 and N32 to the deionized condition, current will also cease flowing through the path provided by the anodes and the cathodes of the gas tubes. Armature, l5, therefore, of the relay R4 will leave contact I! and return to contact l6 and this will result in the short-circuiting of the condenser 02 and resistance Z3, the short-circuiting path being provided by the reslstorzi and the armature l5 and contact it of relay R Condenser C2 then will be almost immediately discharged through resistance Z1, which is preferably a resistance of small magnitude.

When the armature l5 leaves contact l1, cur

rent is also withdrawn from the winding of relay R3 and from the anode circuit of gas tube N33. Consequently the relay R3 will be restored to normal. Armature 2| of relay R3 will then leave its contact 20 and hence open the circuit D which may extend to an oscillograph or any other apparatus or load. Relay R3 will not be again operated unless the relay R4 has repeated its operation and remained operated long enough to build up sufllcient potential across condenser C2 to the actuating circuits oftubes N31 and N32,

. Fig. 3 shows an arrangement which employs in resistors Z1: and Z11.

the timing circuit a hot cathode type of tube N44 containing a grid G,an anode A, a heater H anda cathode K. This tube may be employed to replace the cold'cathode tube N33 of Fig. 2. Conductor 28 of Fig. 3 may be connected to the armature'l5 of the relay R1 of Fig. 2. Conductor 29 of Fig. 3 may be connected to terminal 26 of Fig. 2, while conductor 30 of Fig. 3 may be connected to terminal 2'! of Fig. 2. Thus the arrangement of Fig. 3 may be employed to replace the resistances Z2 and Z3, condenser C3, gas tube N33 and the relay R3 shown at P of Fig. 2. The operation of the arrangement employing the hot vention may be readily practiced with arrangements which have but one transformer. One or more current sources may be connected to the .primary winding of a single transformer, or if more than one source is required, each such source may be connected to the primary winding of a separate transformer, the mcondaries of i which may be connected in series with each other as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. Furthermore the circuits may be modified to elimi nate all transformers.

Fig. 4 shows another type of circuit for delaying the operation of a load or work' circuit. in this arrangement the condenser C11 is normally discharged. 'I'hecathodes K1 and K1 of the tube Ni are connected to the input circuit through the current-limiting resistor-Z111 and the battery 13111.

formed by the winding of the relay R13 and the battery B11.

The condenser C11 is normally discharged and it cannot receive a charge until a sufliciently high voltage hasbeen applied to the input circuit of the system. After such a voltage has become applied to the input circuit, the gas within the gaps K1-K1 and AK3 of the tube N1 will become ionized and current will promptly flow through the circuit which includes the battery B11, the anode A and cathode K: of the tube N1 and the The impedance between the latter electrodes of the tube N1 during ionization is very low. The condenser C11 at the same time becomes charged by the flow of current from the battery B11. When the voltage across the condenser C11 equals or exceedsthe value required to ionize the gas'between the cathodes K1 and K: of the tube K1, current will then flow from the battery B11 through the winding of the relay R12 and operate this relay. The relay R12'will remain operated as long as sufficiently high voltage remains applied to the cathodes K1 and K: of the tube N1. Anysurge which is. of but brief duration and insufficient to allow the condenser C11 to become sumciently charged will be ineffective in bringing about the operation of the relay Rm. Although deionization circuits have not been shown in .connection with the circuits of of these circuits. Suitable deionization circuits for this purpose are shown and described in Patent No. 1,977,256, dated October 16, 1934.

Fig. shows a delay circuit interposed between two cold-cathode'gas-filled tubes N1 and N2. The cathodes K1 and K2are'shunted by a large resistor Z20 which bridges the input circuit of the system. The anode A of the tube N1 is connected to the cathode K2 by means of a circuit which includes the winding of the vibrating relay R20, the winding of the relay R2 the resistor Z21 and the battery B1. The armature .and contact of the vibrating relay R20 are shunted by a spark suppression circuit including condenser C and resistor Z5 as shown in Fig. 2. The relay R21 is normally unoperated and its armature and back contact are connected through a resistor Z22 across the variable condenser C20. This condenser may also be shunted by a variable resistor Z23.

-if desired, and the condenser will also shunt the 25 circuit of the cathodes K1 and K2 of the tube N2.

The anode A of tube N2 is connected to the oathode K1 through a circuit which includes the windingof a relay R22, thebattery B and the front contact and-armature of therelay'Rn.

\ As long as the relay R21 is unoperated, the condenserCzo will remain discharged. But after the relay operates, the condenser will be charged by the battery B1, the charging circuit including the resistor Z2; and the armature and front contact of the relay R21.

In response to the application of sufiiciently high voltage to the input circuit of the system ofFig. 5, the gas between the cathodes K1 and K2 of'the tube N1 will become ionized and current will "flow from battery 31 through the windings of relays R22 and R21. The relay R20 will vibrate itsarmatureas long as sufiicient voltage remains impressed upon the input circuit but the relay R21 will remain continuously operated during that interval. The operation oLthe relay R21 will immediately remove the short-circuit around the condenser C20 and around the oathode circuit ofthe tube N2 and the battery B1 will supply current for charging the condenser C20. As the voltage across the condenser C2 exceeds the value required to ionize the gas between the cathodes K1 and K2 of the tube N2, battery Bi will supply current to the winding of the relay R22 and cause this relay to operate.

In one arrangement set up in accordance with. the diagram of Fig. 5, the battery B1 had a terminal voltage of 135 volts, the resistors Z22, Z2; and Z24 were of the order of 10, 200,000 and 20,000 ohms, respectively, and the operation ofthe relay R22 was brought about only after sustainedapplication of voltage to the input circuit and lightning surges or the like were-unable, to operate this relay. The relay R22 was part of recording equipment for recording the occurrence of applied voltages. The amount of delay introduced by this circuit was determined by the magnitudes of the resistors and battery just specified as well as of the condenser C22.

While this-invention has been shown and de-' scribed in certain particular arrangements merely for the purpose of illustration, it willbe understood that this invention may be applied to other and widely varied arrangements without-departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. 1

pwhatisclaimedisz 1. The combination of first and second gas discharge tubes, 9.. source of potential, a condenser, means for connecting said condenser in series with said source, a resistor shunting said condenser and said second tube, means for ionizing the gas within the first tube and for charging said condenser, means responsiveto a predeter-' mined charge on said condenser for ionizing the gas of the second tube, and a load circuit operated in response to gaseous ionization within the 7 is a vibrating relay, a third relay of slow operate type controlled, by the .first relay, a load circuit operated in response to the simultaneous opera-- tion of the first and third relays, and means including the second relay for periodically deionizing the gas of the tube.

3. The combination of a. gas discharge tube having three electrodes, means for ionizing the gas of said tube, a work circuit connected to said tube including a relay and means for periodically deionizing the gas within said tube, a slow operate relay controlled by the first mentioned relay, and a load circuit operated in response to the conjoint operation of both relays.

4. An arrangement for recording voltage efiects persisting longer than a predetermined time interval comprising a gas discharge tube having an input circuit to which said voltage effects are transmitted and angoutput circuit from which the voltage efiects are rendered available, a relay having a winding connected to said output circuit and operated by the voltage effects in said output circuit, a slow operate relay controlled by the armature of the first-mentioned relay, and a main circuit closed only upon the operation of the slow operate relay and said firstmentioned relay.

5. The combination of a 'full wave translating circuit of two equal gas filled discharge tubes each having three electrodes, two of the electrodes of each of said tubes being actuating elec-- trodes between which a glow discharge occurs on opposite halves of each applied alternating current cycle, a relay having a winding connected between the third electrodes and one or the response to gaseous ionization in either tube, a delay device operated by said relay, and a main 'circuit controlled and operated only when said other electrodes of each tube, and operated in ond resistor shunting said condenser, said condenser shunting said second tube so that the gas of said second tube may become'ionized when the voltage to which said condenser is charged reaches a predetermined value, and a load circuit operated in response togaseousionization within said second tube. I

7. The combination of first and second gas discharge tubes, a source of potential, first and second resistors, a condenser continuously shunt- 'ing first resistor and said sec'ond tube,

responsive tothe ionization of the gas within the means charge tubes, three resistors, a condenser shunting the second oi! said tubes, means responsive to the ionization of the gaswithin the mat tube resistors to a voltage sumcient to ionize the gas of the second tube, another of said resistors being connected permanently in shunt with said condenser, means for connecting the third 'resistor 5 across saidcondenser and for disconnecting said third resistor fromsaid condenser as the gas of the first tube becomes 'deionized-or-ionizedrespectiveiy, and a load circuit operated in re- 'sponse to gaseous ionization within the second in tube. J

mum: xssson swear.

to charge said condenser through one of said 

